Global Warming and Hot Air

While the UN, George Bush, and Bill Clinton waxed over climate change last week at separate conferences, the Clinton Global Initiative gathered some cool luminaries discussing their own initiatives, including Ted Turner,Russell Simmons,Angelina and Brad. Pittcoughed up a $5 mil donation to his New Orleans housing project with Global Green USA, recently mentioned here…

Meanwhile, actress Josie Maran got booted off the new season of Dancing with the Stars. The judges were tough on her foxtrot, but she’s distracted launching her eco-cosmetics line of environmentally friendly ingredients in biodegradable packaging. The former face of Maybelline, who supports the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and Global Green USA, Maran’s make-up is available at Barneys or on her website…

Oscar winning writer/director Paul Haggis (Crash) joined New Mexico’s Green Filmmaking Program with his latest movie, In the Valley of Elah. Providing training, incentives, and a range of resources from bio-diesel generators to rainwater harvesting, the state’s effort encourages productions to reduce their carbon footprint through eco-certification, while supplying the local business community new opportunities. (Ahem, will someone let the president know about the economic advantages of going green?)…

Despite the entertainment industry’s eco-efforts, it got lashed by a recent UCLA study claiming that showbiz is second only to oil in its energy guzzling and polluting pyrotechnics. Okay, instead of shooting the stars, attack the studios. There’s the obvious question of buying offsets for greenhouse gasses as an easy solution, but apparently, the FTA is about to investigate the claims of carbon credits businesses. Is it all just lip service? Is this scrutiny of Hollywood a vetting process to keep everyone honest? Or is it about pop culture’s disposability? If YouTube is the democratization of entertainment rather than America’s Funniest Home Videos gone wild, who’s under the green microscope next?

Talking Trash Challenge: Though reporter Tess Vigeland ofAmerican Public Media's radio Marketplace, planned to haul around her rubbish for two weeks—in an effort to reduce her accumulation, she dumped the stinking idea, considering most people toss a few pounds per day. Not a total waste, it gave birth to a new series on the radio show, Consumed, airing in November, about all the stuff we buy and how much is sustainable, as well as an entire program dedicated to asking: "What's wrong with trash?" Listeners joined her cause and offered some creative and silly suggestions on achieving zero-waste.